More on the Baby Products

Over the past 2 months I have come to realize I don't need every baby gadget or product.  Here are some things I haven't really used and could probably live without and one thing that's a must add to any diaper bag:

The Bottle Warmer 

Now don't get me wrong, this is a great product.  I just don't have any use for it.  I buy powdered formula and prepare it for every feeding, not in advance.  I use room temperature water so there's no need to warm it.  If you're the type who buys the pre-mixed formula or you make your powdered formula in advance and store it in the fridge (or for that matter have to warm up stored breast milk), then you probably have more use for the warmer.

The Dishwasher Basket and Bottle Sterilizer

I have a few of the baskets and haven't used them.  I'm going to save them in case I use them more as Cole gets older - for his little sippy cups and utensils - but so far its easier for me to wash bottles in the sink.  Brett and I don't use a lot of dishes and it takes us a while before we fill the dishwasher.  I hate the idea of running the dishwasher unless its full so I just fill up the sink.  That, of course, means I don't use a sterilizer.  I don't have one, so maybe its a luxury I'm missing out on.  I'm also not such a paranoid mommy that I feel like I can't get bottles perfectly clean without good old fashioned soap and scrubbing.

Now here's a tip on something I LOVE:

Changing Pads

These little pads are inexpensive and quite handy.  I put one on my changing table and in Cole's crib.  It helps cut down on laundry.  In the early days, and especially after Cole's man bit surgery, he had the occassional leaky diaper.  It was so easy to swap out a changing pad than have to put on a new crib sheet or changing pad cover, particularly in the wee hours of the morning.  Using these changing pads got me thinking...and I came up with a must have addition to my diaper bag: puppy pads.  That's right, you read that correctly.  Puppy pads.  I had some left over from when Koda was a puppy.  Seeing how well the changing pads worked at home I decided puppy pads were the disposable version while I was out and about.  This way, any mess happens on the puppy pad and I can just throw it away after changing Cole.  I don't have to worry about the changing pad in my diaper bag getting dirty and having to tote it around all day til I can get home to clean it.

If you feel differently about any of these products, or have any tips or ideas of your own, feel free to let me know!